Systems And Methods for Conducting Survey to Get Opinions on People

ABSTRACT

System and method for conducting survey to get references&#39; opinions on target person. References are selected by survey system automatically. Surveys are arranged by survey system automatically. References include anyone who may know or be aware of a target person. Survey question is simple. Survey process is quick and easy. It enables gathering opinions from all or the majority of references who are available to do it.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. Sec. 119 of provisional patent applications Ser. No. 61/890,187, filed Oct. 12, 2013.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to conducting survey, more particularly to conducting survey to get opinions on target people.

2. Description of Prior Art

When a business or organization evaluates a candidate in a hiring process, references of the candidate may be contacted and then interviewed manually by telephone to get opinions on the candidate. The opinions are important in making hiring decisions. In theory, anyone who may know or may be aware of a candidate qualifies as a reference. For instance, if a person ever worked at a small company during a period of time, all people who were with that company during that period of time may be the person's reference. Thus, for every adult, there may exist plenty of references such as former classmates or schoolmates, and past and present coworkers, neighbors, and association members, and the like. Conducting an interview with a reference is a time-consuming process, because much work is done manually. References are selected manually. Interviews are scheduled manually, often after a few rounds of back and forth message exchanges. And interviews are handled manually. Understandably due to limited manpower of human resource personnel, only a couple of references are called in for each candidate, which may represent merely one percent or even lower of references who are qualified. Thus opinions collected actually come from a few persons, while most references are ignored. Obviously, judgment based on words of a tiny percentage of references might be flawed inherently, which may cause hiring mistakes. It is desirable to have opinions on a person from more references.

On the other hand, usually it is the candidate who provides names of reference to be interviewed. However, a reference submitted by candidate may turn out to be his or her friend or someone related somehow. In consequence, such a reference may provide a polarized view favoring the candidate to a certain degree.

Therefore, there exists a need to get opinions on a candidate or target person from more references, or there exists a need to conduct more reference surveys.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, several main objects and advantages of the present invention are:

-   -   a). to provide an improved system and method to conduct surveys         for collecting people's opinions on a target person;     -   b). to provide such system and method which survey all or the         majority of references who are available;     -   c). to provide such system and method which find references         automatically using algorithm;     -   d). to provide such system and method which arrange surveys for         references automatically using algorithm; and     -   e). to provide such system and method which provide simplified         question and easy and quick survey process.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, a survey system is designed to obtain people's opinions on a target person. The system is arranged to prepare surveys for all or most references who are available to do it. References are identified automatically based on the experience of target person. Surveys are set up automatically. Survey process features a simplified question and simple answers. It may provide a platform for getting opinions on anyone from most available references conveniently.

DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram describing one embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flow diagram showing one embodiment of proposed survey in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are exemplary illustrations of two embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are exemplary flow diagrams depicting survey processes in accordance with the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

10 Client System 12 Survey Database 14 Communication Network 16 Processor 18 Processing Module 20 Display Surface 22 Computer Readable Medium 26 Button 24 Button 30 Button 28 Button 34 Button 32 Button 38 Button 36 Survey Window 82 Server System 80 Client System 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, and 152 are exemplary steps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an exemplary block diagram of one embodiment according to the present invention. A client system 80 and server system 82 are connected via a communication network 14. Client 80 may represent an electronic device, including but not limited to a smartphone, a smart watch, a tablet computer, a handheld computer, a desktop computer, etc. Client 80 may include a processor 16 and computer readable medium 22. Processor 16 may mean one or more processor chips or systems. Medium 22 may include a memory hierarchy built by one or more memory chips or storage modules like RAM, ROM, FLASH, magnetic, optical and/or thermal storage devices. Processor 16 may run programs or sets of executable instructions stored in medium 22 for performing various functions and tasks, e.g., surfing on the Internet, playing video or music, electronic payment, social networking, sending and receiving messages, executing other applications, etc. Client 80 may also include input, output, and communication components, which may be individual modules or integrated with processor 16. Usually, client 80 may have a display with a graphical user interface (GUI). A user may use GUI to interact with a client system and/or a remote server. A display surface may be sensitive to touches, i.e., sensitive to haptic and/or tactile contact with a user, especially in the case of smart phone, smart watch, and tablet computer. A touch screen may be used as a convenient tool for user to enter instructions. Client 80 may also have a voice recognition component for receiving verbal command or audio input from a user.

The word “server” means a system or systems which may have similar functions and capacities as one or more servers. Main components of server may include one or more processors, which control and process data and information by executing software, logic, code, or carrying out any other suitable functions. A server, as a computing device, may include any hardware, firmware, software, or a combination. In the most compact form, a server may be built on a single processor chip. In the figure, server 82 may represent one or more server entities that collect, process, maintain, and/or manage survey information and documents, arrange surveys, communicate with users, deliver information required by users or customers, etc. Server 82 may exemplarily be divided into two blocks, represented by a processing module 18 and a survey database 12. Processing module 18 may include processing and communication functions. Database 12 may store user ID, survey ID, survey results, and other survey related information, such as information on a survey event. The database may include aforementioned memory chips and/or storage modules.

A communication network 14 may cover a range of entities such as the Internet or the World Wide Web, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a telephone network, an intranet, wireless, and other types of networks. Client 80 and server 82 may be connected to network 14 by various wired, wireless, optical, or other connections.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating one survey embodiment according to the present invention. Step 100 represents the beginning of survey process. Assume that a survey system receives a request to collect opinions on a target person. It starts by gathering relevant information. The information may include contact info, current status, and past experience of the target person, which may be obtained from the person's resume and other sources.

Next in Step 102, references of the target person may be found automatically, via analyzing the target person's experience by the survey system. References may include people who know or are aware of the target person. A reference may be a former or current classmate, schoolmate, colleague, and so on. The system may dig out people who were or are with the target person. Next contact info of references may be retrieved by the system either from system's database, other database, or from the Internet. Due to reasons like no access to the Internet, outdated device, or lack of valid account, some references might not be able to take the proposed surveys which rely on electronic device and internet connection. Thus available references may be singled out. An available reference means a reference who has a suitable device or access to a suitable device, a proper online account, and thus may be capable to do the survey. In essence, a reference is available if a survey session can be presented to him or her on a proper device.

After retrieving info of reference, survey events may be arranged in Step 104 by the system automatically. Ideally all available references shall be reached for doing survey. But in reality it would be good enough if the majority of available references could get a survey message. Considering only one or two references are interviewed for a candidate currently, even ten or twenty references, which may represent ten percent, may mean one magnitude better. As surveys are handled by machine, it is likely hundreds of references may get involved for one target person.

The system may send survey instruction to references' devices respectively. As surveys are mostly conducted on devices like smartphone or personal computer, no specific timing is required for each survey, and the start of survey event may be associated with normal activities of a reference. For instance, it may be designed such that a survey session goes with a platform. After a device receives a survey notice, it doesn't start by itself. Only when certain platform is on, the survey session may appear on a setting of the platform. Alternatively, a pop-up survey window may also be used for conducting a survey. The window may show up when certain program runs its course. As a result, a survey session may happen any time depending on the setup and events played on the device.

After survey sessions each appear on a device display in Step 106, references may take surveys individually in Step 108. As said, survey starting time may depend upon each reference and their circumstances. Finally, in Step 110, survey results, or opinions on the target person, may be sent to the system and processed to generate analysis report.

It is noted that during a survey as described in FIG. 2, every step except Step 108, which needs the effort of reference, is performed automatically via certain algorithm or computer programs. Therefore, it makes it possible to conduct a great number of reference surveys on a target person conveniently and efficiently. It also makes it possible to obtain opinions on a person from all available references or the majority of available references.

As survey is by nature unbeneficial to surveyee or responder, many people are reluctant to do it. Thus it is important to make the burden of survey as light as it could be. More specifically, it is important to design a survey process which is easy to understand, simple to do, and quick to finish. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary survey embodiment that has such features. The diagram contains a client system 10, which may have the functionality of client system 80 of FIG. 1. Client 10 has a display surface 20 as GUI, where info, messages and graphic objects may be presented. Graphic objects may represent documents, applications, and functions. Assume that surface 20 is sensitive to touch or tap. A graphic object on the surface may be selected or activated by a click on a mouse or more conveniently, by a touch or tap of fingertip directly.

Shown on surface 20 is a survey window in a graphical way. It is assumed that the target person is John Doe. There is a title “Opinion Survey” and a survey question “Recommend John Doe?” beneath the title. A survey question is preferably to be substantially simplified so that it is easy and quick to read and understand. The question is also preferred to be generic, not limited to certain field, and not related to any specific experience and status of target person, which helps a reference comprehend it quickly and give an answer to express general opinion or impression quickly. Following the question, there are four graphic objects or buttons 26, 28, 30, 24, corresponding to “Yes”, “No”, “Not Sure”, and “Unknown Person” respectively. The buttons represent four simple and short answers, which are also easy and quick to read and understand. Simplified question and answers are the basis for an easy and quick survey. Further down on the screen, there are two bigger buttons 32 and 34, providing options for more questions and answers and comment entry.

Naturally for a reference who takes the survey, if John is viewed as a good and capable person, “Yes” button is the answer; if it's the opposite, “No” button is selected; if memory of John is faint and it's hard to decide, “Not Sure” may be tapped; or if John looks like a stranger, “Unknown Person” is the right reply. As the only question and all answers are easy, short, and simple, it provides a quick and convenient method to do survey. A reference may just need to tap one among buttons 26, 28, 30, 24 to complete a survey session, and then tap a button 38 to close the window. Such a simple and quick process may make more people participate in surveys and make it possible to collect opinions on a target person from a large number of references.

Moreover, if a reference would like to provide more thoughts or info, he or she may choose button 32. After the button is pressed, a new window may show up with traditional survey questions and answers. The questions may be more elaborate and address various aspects. For example, a question may be designed to grade a person's professional skills in a specific field, and answers may include “Expert”, “Excellent”, “Very good”, “Good”, “Okay”, “Below Average”, “Poor”, “Not Certain”, “Not Known”, and “Refuse to Answer”. A reference may also tap on button 34 to go to a comment page, where personal thinking, observation, judgment, memory, and stories may be entered to provide detailed and colorful information. If a reference wants to ignore the survey, he or she may tap on button 38 to close the window, or leave the device and let the survey window close by itself after certain time of inactivity.

When a reference has plenty of time and wants to contribute as much info as possible, he or she may go through all options provided. For instance, a reference may touch button 26, 28, or 30 to give a short answer, then pressing button 32 and spend time in giving more answers, and then tap on button 34 to express more opinions.

The embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 demonstrates that a survey may be made easy, quick, and thus more acceptable by references. However, to attract the majority of references, a simple process alone may not be enough, as the timing of survey is equally important. When a person is watching contents on a display, appearance of survey may only draw annoyance. But when a person is not watching contents presented, he or she may watch something else away from the display. In either case, it's hard to introduce a survey session.

To resolve the dilemma, FIG. 4 schematically shows another embodiment, where the main theme is “1-Action Multiple Surveys” on surface 20 of client 10. The multiple surveys may be configured for getting feedback on regular daily events, such as shopping, dining, service, entertainment, etc. A person may periodically visit this webpage to complete surveys and possibly collect points as award. Once a person is done with these routine surveys, he may take one more survey on a person whom he may know. As shown at the bottom part of surface 20, there is another survey window area 36 which is set up for getting opinions on John Doe. The survey contents are the same as that in FIG. 3, i.e., the same question, same selection button names, and same additional buttons for collecting more detailed info. Thus like the scheme of FIG. 3, with one tap, a survey on John Doe may be performed and completed.

The configuration in FIG. 4 makes survey on person far less intrusive, as it occurs on a survey page and follows other surveys after all. In addition, after a person takes surveys on daily events, he or she may have a little free time on hand, and thus may be more likely to do another quick survey, especially if the target person is someone he or she knows.

Back to FIG. 1, survey on a person may be executed by processor 16. The preparation of survey may be triggered by a message received by the client system, where the message may come from server 82 at a survey center. Survey related information, including case ID, target person ID, reference ID, and survey data/results, may be sent to server 82 by processor 16 via network 14. Server 82 may store survey related information and survey data/results at database 12. Alternatively, processor 16 may send the information and data to a local device which may then pass them to database 12.

Now referring to FIG. 5, an exemplary flow diagram for survey on person. Step 112 marks the early stage or info gathering stage of survey process. Needed info includes contact information and experience of target person, list of references, and contact information of references. A reference list may include all people whom a system could identify based upon the experience of target person. Once references are located, survey sessions may be arranged and survey windows may be generated on references' devices in Step 114. Next, each reference may choose an option to proceed.

If preferring a quick process, a reference may choose Step 118 and then select answer “Yes”, “No”, “Not Sure”, or “Unknown Person” to conclude the survey. If preferring writing comments, a reference may select Step 120 to enter a note pad area. If preferring conventional survey format, a reference may take Step 116 and start another survey routine. It is seen that Step 116, 118, and 120 are connected, so a reference may jump from one step to any of the other two steps, before choosing Step 122 to end the event.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic flow diagram of one survey embodiment. Assume that a reference is selected to do survey on John Doe, the target person. It starts with Step 124, where survey window appears on a display. The window may look like the appearance of FIG. 3. Next in Step 126, the reference faces a concise question “Recommend John Doe?”. There are multiple options as responding answer. The reference may select “Yes”, “No”, “Not Sure”, or “Unknown Person”. If “Unknown Person” is selected, the survey may end in Step 128. If no input is received for a given period of time, the survey may end in Step 128 too. If “Yes”, “No”, or “Not Sure” is selected, additional multiple options await the reference. He or she may end the process in Step 132, or enter Step 130 or 134 to continue the survey. On the other hand, the reference may also jump to Step 130 or 134 directly without choosing a short answer “Yes”, “No”, or “Not Sure”. In Step 130, traditional survey questions and answers may be presented. There may be many long questions, and the answer may be complicated. Step 134 provides an opportunity to enter comments, thoughts, and suggestions on John Doe. After finishing Step 134, a reference may choose to go to Step 130, and vice versa; or go to Step 132 to end the process.

FIG. 7 shows another schematic flow diagram of survey embodiment from the process point of view. The diagram describes steps to collect opinions on John Doe. In Step 136, John's identification info, such as name and date of birth, is received. The ID info is sent to a survey center in Step 138. Then in Step 140, details of John's experience are searched at the center's database, as well as outside sources. The survey center obtains and stores relevant info of John in Step 142. Next John's experience and background are studied, and info of John's references is collected in Step 144. After that, reference info is aggregated at the survey center in Step 146. Then in Step 148, surveys on John are arranged and performed. Survey related data and results are transmitted to the survey center in Step 150. Finally, survey data and results are processed at the survey center, and a survey report is generated in Step 152. A survey report on target person may include the total number of references who participated in it, distribution of the short answers, a summary on traditional surveys submitted, and collection of personal comments contributed.

FIG. 7 once again demonstrates that a survey may be arranged and conducted by survey system and client devices automatically. Thus surveys involving lots of references may happen in a large scale. Numerous surveys may happen simultaneously. Lots of surveys may be concluded within a short period of time. All of these may improve the efficiency of recruiting process, optimize hiring result, and benefit both employers and candidates with good track record.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Thus it can be seen that systems and methods are introduced for conducting improved surveys on a target person.

The improved survey may have the following features and advantages:

-   -   (1). Surveys may be arranged for all or most of references who         are able to do it;     -   (2). Surveys may be designed with simple question and quick         answers;     -   (3). References may be selected automatically via analysis of         target person's experience;     -   (4). Surveys may be prepared for references automatically; and     -   (5). Survey on person may be attached to other surveys to make         it far less intrusive.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments. Numerous modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

RAMIFICATIONS

A survey process as described in FIG. 3 may be designed to have one-click function, i.e., one click on button 26, 28, 30, or 24, may complete the survey and close the survey window automatically in the meantime. A one-click survey may be less burdensome and less intrusive.

With voice recognition technology, a client device may recognize user's voice. A user may speak to a device to give short verbal answers. The word “yes”, “no”, “not sure”, “unknown”, once recognized, may complete a survey.

Besides hiring process, survey methods discussed in the above may be used for other events where opinions on a target person are needed. For instance, it may be used to gather views on a senior manager or ordinary employee in an internal evaluation process at an organization. A question, which shall be worded preferably in a substantially simplified form, may be like “Recommend John Doe?” or “John Doe For Promotion?”. Furthermore, the survey method may also be used to test the popularity of a public figure with a question such as “John Doe For Governor?” or “Recommend John Doe?”.

In FIG. 3, a “Wait” button may be added on surface 20 of client 10. A user may tap the button to delay a survey process to a later time. For instance, if a user is busy when a survey window appears on surface 20, he or she may tap the “Wait” button so that the survey window may either stay or be shrunk into an icon which may be activated later on.

Lastly, since classmates, neighbors, club members, or coworkers correspond to different social circles, it may be desirable to sort survey results based on the circles at some occasions. For instance, a company's human resource staff may pay more attention to opinions from a candidate's former colleagues, rather than his or her neighbors. Thus sorting may make survey results more relevant to certain issues.

Therefore the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. A method performed for conducting at least one survey session on a target person comprising: 1) obtaining information of said target person and at least one reference, said method arranged such that said at least one reference may be anyone who may know or may be aware of said target person and may be available to take said at least one survey session; 2) generating said at least one survey session for said at least one reference using electronic means; 3) obtaining survey information from said at least one reference, said survey information related to said target person; 4) transmitting said survey information to a survey database via a communication network or electronic device; and 5) said at least one survey session arranged automatically using algorithm.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one reference is selected automatically by a survey system.
 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said survey session includes a substantially simplified question, said survey session arranged to be completed after response to said question is received.
 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one survey session is arranged to show up with other survey events.
 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one reference represents at least ten percent of references who are available for taking survey.
 6. A client system having a display and stored executable instructions, comprising: 1) connection component for connecting said client system to an electronic device or a communication network; 2) survey means for generating a survey window on said display for conducting a survey on a target person; 3) said client system configured for presenting a substantially simplified survey question in said window and receiving a substantially simplified survey answer from a reference; 4) said question and answer related to said target person, said survey arranged to be concluded after said answer is received by said client system; and 5) transmission means for transmitting the survey related information to a survey database via said device or said network.
 7. The client system according to claim 6 wherein said reference is selected based on information related to said target person by a survey system automatically.
 8. The client system according to claim 6 wherein said survey is arranged by said survey system automatically.
 9. The client system according to claim 6 wherein said survey is arranged to be presented with other survey events staged on said display.
 10. The client system according to claim 6 wherein the appearance of said survey is partially related to the activity of said reference, said activity unrelated to said survey.
 11. A method performed for conducting a plurality of survey sessions comprising: 1) obtaining information of a target person; 2) obtaining the contact info of a plurality of references regarding said target person using algorithm, said method arranged such that said plurality of references may know or may be aware of said target person; 3) arranging a plurality of survey sessions on said target person using electronic devices, said plurality of survey sessions arranged for said plurality of references respectively; 4) obtaining survey information from said plurality of references after said plurality of survey sessions are concluded, said survey information related to said target person; 5) transmitting said survey information to a survey database via a communication network or electronic device; and 6) said method arranged such that said plurality of references include at least ten percent of references who are available for taking survey.
 12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said plurality of references are selected automatically by a survey system.
 13. The method according to claim 11 wherein said plurality of survey sessions each include an option to be concluded after response to a substantially simplified question is received.
 14. The method according to claim 11 wherein at least one of said plurality of survey sessions is arranged to show up alongside other survey events.
 15. The method according to claim 11 wherein the appearance of at least one of said plurality of survey sessions is partially related to the activity of the corresponding reference, said activity unrelated to said plurality of survey sessions.
 16. The method according to claim 11, further including sorting said survey information based on the reference information. 